Stories of Innovation
INNOVATE™ Estonia
ÄIO
FROM VISION TO REALITY: THE STORY OF ÄIO
ÄIO (äio tech OÜ) – founded in January 2022 by Nemailla Bonturi (PhD, Brazil) and Petri-Jaan Lahtvee (PhD, Estonia), is not just a startup, spinoff or company — it’s a vision to revolutionize how the world produces fats and oils. How It All Began Nemailla and Petri-Jaan’s journey towards ÄIO...
Global Innovation Spotlight
The Rise of Borderless Startups and the Digital Tools Powering Them
Previously, opening a business largely depended on location. A startup owner was expected to establish an office, hire staff in their home city or country, and run their company in that location. However, there’s a growing number of startups that operate internationally from the day they launch, mainly due to...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
ASM GLOBAL
DELIVERS LIVE EXPERIENCES
PUERTO RICO’S PREMIERE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUESASM Global is the world’s leading venue management and services company. The company has an elite venue network that spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 350 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues....
INNOVATION Quebec
ALLIANCE MÉTAL QUÉBEC
EN MODE INNOVATION
Au Québec, le secteur de la fabrication métallique industrielle (FMI) est le plus important secteur manufacturier. Alliance Métal Québec (AMQ), compte plus de 100 entreprises spécialisées dans les structures complexes et composantes métalliques. Sa mission est de créer des synergies entre les entreprises afin de solutionner des problématiques communes. LE...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
COMBAT READY
TURNING BATTLEFIELD LESSONS INTO EVERYDAY LEADERSHIP
Combat Ready emerged from a simple but urgent realization: while management courses abound, practical leadership training was missing in Northern Europe. Founded by veterans of elite military units, the company set out to close this gap by adapting the rigorous methods of Special Forces training to the realities of business...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
MAVATAR
REDEFINING PRECISION MEDICINE THROUGH DIGITAL TWINS AND DEEP DATA
Founded in Sweden and built on over two decades of scientific research, Mavatar is at the forefront of a new era in precision medicine. Its proprietary technology platform combines biological expertise, advanced machine learning, and high-resolution molecular data to create digital twins—virtual models of both patients and diseases that simulate...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Technology and Family Leisure:
New Ways to Have Fun
Family time has never looked quite like this before. Screens, apps, and gadgets have moved far beyond solo entertainment — they’re now tools for connection, creativity, and shared adventure. Whether your household is full of toddlers or teenagers, there’s a digital experience waiting to bring everyone to the same table....
Global Innovation Spotlight
The economy of the fandom experience:
Merch, innovation, and sustainability
Everybody’s part of a fandom nowadays, with many people being part of several communities for different musicians, bands, movies, series, and sports teams at the same time. Since many are quite passionate about the fandoms they’re part of, it’s natural that they’d want to wear their interests on their sleeve....
INNOVATE™ Toronto
PORTAGE VENTURES
A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR
Portage Ventures (“Portage”) is a venture investor that partners with some of the world’s most innovative financial technology companies. Portage is the venture capital arm of multi-asset class alternative investment firm Sagard. It was cofounded in 2016 by Paul Desmarais III (Executive Chairman and CEO of Sagard) and Adam Felesky...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
QREDIBLE®
CULTIVATING TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY: HOW QREDIBLE® IS REVOLUTIONIZING THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY
Qredible is a first-of-its-kind platform, leading the way in building trust and transparency in the cannabis, CBD, and hemp supply chains. The legalized cannabis industry can be a maze of false, misleading, outdated, or missing information. Qredible’s unique platform is revolutionizing the industry by connecting the entire CBD, hemp, and...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Tips for Malaysians to Maximize Wins Using Betting Apps
Practical tips for Malaysian bettors on using betting apps effectively, focusing on discipline, features, and informed decision-making
Tips for Malaysians to Maximize Wins Using Betting Apps These days, plenty of people in Malaysia place bets through smartphone apps while watching football matches. Quick entry from phones means decisions happen faster, yet staying focused matters even more. Success tends to come less from frequent betting and more from...
INNOVATE® Seattle
Madrona
A PARTNER AND BACKER OF FOUNDERS AT THE INNOVATION, EARLY AND ACCELERATION STAGES
A PARTNER AND BACKER OF FOUNDERS AT THE INNOVATION, EARLY AND ACCELERATION STAGES. Madrona starts working with leadership teams before the first investment, supporting them with capital and hard work. We have been doing this since 1995 and actively invest in AI, enterprise technology, marketplaces, and more. As the tech...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
BOSS INSIGHTS
ACCELERATING FINTECHS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES FORWARD
You know how to lend. But, to whom do you lend, when you don’t have the right data? Too many business lenders are constrained by partial data and manual processes. And, speed is paramount. Keren Moynihan, CEOBoss Insights empowers fintechs and lenders to respond faster, make underwriting decisions more quickly,...
INNOVATE® Seattle
BRINC
TRANSFORMING PUBLIC SAFETY: THE FUTURE OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Blake Resnick, the founder and CEO of BRINC, started his engineering career at McLaren Automotive at 14. He later worked at Tesla Motors and DJI, the world’s largest drone company. Growing up in Las Vegas, the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting deeply impacted Blake, leading him to focus on public...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Detroit Venture Partners
Shaping the Future of Tech in Detroit and Beyond
Founded in 2010 by Dan Gilbert, the visionary behind Rocket Companies and Rocket Mortgage, Detroit Venture Partners (DVP) is at the forefront of Detroit’s entrepreneurial renaissance. Gilbert’s leadership in reshaping industries through his companies extends seamlessly into DVP, a venture capital firm committed to investing in bold entrepreneurs and game-changing...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
RETAIL CAPITAL
TURNING A DIGITAL FOOTPRINT INTO A FUNDING LIFELINE
Retail Capital was born in 2011 as an idea on a white napkin. Those drawings became the framework of what ended up being the first Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) product for businesses in South Africa. Driven by a deep passion to support the SME sector, Retail Capital has since innovated...
INNOVATE® Nashville
CAPITOL VIEW DENTAL
DENTISTRY WITH A CLASSICAL TOUCH, WHERE NASHVILLE COMES TO SMILE!
When I started college in 2005 at Indiana University, if you would have told me I’d be opening the first black owned dental practice in the North Gulch in Nashville by 2025, I would have been totally shocked. I would be trying to figure out how a musician studying classical...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
CALGARY INNOVATION COALITION
Accelerating a venture’s journey, providing a path to success
The Calgary Innovation Coalition (CIC) is striving to create a healthy, inclusive, globally recognized innovation ecosystem supporting thriving ventures in the Calgary region. To accelerate the venture’s journey we leverage the connectivity, experience, and knowledge of our member network to identify and address ecosystem needs, enhance connections, and enable venture...
INNOVATION Quebec
ICI
CCTT IN GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS AND PRINTABILITY
A printed product is much more than colour on paper! It delivers a message, draws attention, surprises and protects; it evolves with our needs, growing smarter every day. INNOVATION in industrial researchLooking to add smart features to your products? Want to develop functional inks, use nanomaterials or improve the circularity...
INNOVATE™ Oeiras
BMW
Full Speed Towards The Mobility Of The Future
With more than 100 years of history and a journey based on the courage to innovate and compete among the best, the BMW Group continues to learn from the challenges of the past to respond to the opportunities of the future. We believe that the answer to great challenges is...
INNOVATE® Nashville
FreightWise
Bringing transportation technology and supply chain solutions to SMB and midmarket businesses.
FOUNDED IN 2015 IN BRENTWOOD, TN, FREIGHTWISE HAS BECOME A TRUSTED PARTNER FOR ITS CUSTOMERS, PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION EXPERTISE AND TECHNOLOGY TO DRIVE EFFICIENCY AND INNOVATION FOR BUSINESSES. Agile transportation technology and solutions FreightWise offers flexible Transportation Management System (TMS) technology to SMB and mid-market businesses through FreightWise TMS and Kuebix...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
THE JACOBSON FIRM, P.C.
Strives To Provide Industry Leading Legal Services For The Entertainment, Esports And Video Gaming Industries That Are Both Cost Efficient And Highly Effective
The Jacobson Firm, P.C. is an intellectual property, entertainment and esports business law firm located in New York City. The Firm handles all domestic and international trademarks, copyrights, and licensing matters for companies and entertainment influencers. They provide services to the esports, video game, music, and entertainment industries, as well...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID)
A Vision Realized
The Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID) is dedicated to fostering a thriving, safe, and vibrant commercial and arts district in the designated BID area. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it ensures that local businesses have the resources they need to succeed while promoting economic development that aligns with the unique character...
INNOVATION Quebec
Innofibre
Founded in 1989, Innofibre - Cellulosic Products Innovation Center, is a college center for the transfer of technologies that collaborates with companies, public organizations and both public and private research institutions for the development and scaling of biobased products and bioprocesses
Innofibre’s vision is to contribute to the development of the bioeconomy in Quebec by supporting SME and large companies in innovation. The Innofibre team has the expertise to carry out multidisciplinary projects and carries out numerous projects each year with several partner research institutions. Innofibre stands out for its $40...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
ÄIO
FROM VISION TO REALITY: THE STORY OF ÄIO
ÄIO (äio tech OÜ) – founded in January 2022 by Nemailla Bonturi (PhD, Brazil) and Petri-Jaan Lahtvee (PhD, Estonia), is not just a startup, spinoff or company — it’s a vision to revolutionize how the world produces fats and oils. How It All Began Nemailla and Petri-Jaan’s journey towards ÄIO...
Global Innovation Spotlight
The Rise of Borderless Startups and the Digital Tools Powering Them
Previously, opening a business largely depended on location. A startup owner was expected to establish an office, hire staff in their home city or country, and run their company in that location. However, there’s a growing number of startups that operate internationally from the day they launch, mainly due to...
INNOVATE® Puerto Rico
ASM GLOBAL
DELIVERS LIVE EXPERIENCES
PUERTO RICO’S PREMIERE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUESASM Global is the world’s leading venue management and services company. The company has an elite venue network that spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 350 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues....
INNOVATION Quebec
ALLIANCE MÉTAL QUÉBEC
EN MODE INNOVATION
Au Québec, le secteur de la fabrication métallique industrielle (FMI) est le plus important secteur manufacturier. Alliance Métal Québec (AMQ), compte plus de 100 entreprises spécialisées dans les structures complexes et composantes métalliques. Sa mission est de créer des synergies entre les entreprises afin de solutionner des problématiques communes. LE...
INNOVATE™ Estonia
COMBAT READY
TURNING BATTLEFIELD LESSONS INTO EVERYDAY LEADERSHIP
Combat Ready emerged from a simple but urgent realization: while management courses abound, practical leadership training was missing in Northern Europe. Founded by veterans of elite military units, the company set out to close this gap by adapting the rigorous methods of Special Forces training to the realities of business...
INNOVATE™ Stockholm
MAVATAR
REDEFINING PRECISION MEDICINE THROUGH DIGITAL TWINS AND DEEP DATA
Founded in Sweden and built on over two decades of scientific research, Mavatar is at the forefront of a new era in precision medicine. Its proprietary technology platform combines biological expertise, advanced machine learning, and high-resolution molecular data to create digital twins—virtual models of both patients and diseases that simulate...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Technology and Family Leisure:
New Ways to Have Fun
Family time has never looked quite like this before. Screens, apps, and gadgets have moved far beyond solo entertainment — they’re now tools for connection, creativity, and shared adventure. Whether your household is full of toddlers or teenagers, there’s a digital experience waiting to bring everyone to the same table....
Global Innovation Spotlight
The economy of the fandom experience:
Merch, innovation, and sustainability
Everybody’s part of a fandom nowadays, with many people being part of several communities for different musicians, bands, movies, series, and sports teams at the same time. Since many are quite passionate about the fandoms they’re part of, it’s natural that they’d want to wear their interests on their sleeve....
INNOVATE™ Toronto
PORTAGE VENTURES
A GLOBAL FINTECH VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTOR
Portage Ventures (“Portage”) is a venture investor that partners with some of the world’s most innovative financial technology companies. Portage is the venture capital arm of multi-asset class alternative investment firm Sagard. It was cofounded in 2016 by Paul Desmarais III (Executive Chairman and CEO of Sagard) and Adam Felesky...
INNOVATE® New Jersey Vol.2
QREDIBLE®
CULTIVATING TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY: HOW QREDIBLE® IS REVOLUTIONIZING THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY
Qredible is a first-of-its-kind platform, leading the way in building trust and transparency in the cannabis, CBD, and hemp supply chains. The legalized cannabis industry can be a maze of false, misleading, outdated, or missing information. Qredible’s unique platform is revolutionizing the industry by connecting the entire CBD, hemp, and...
Global Innovation Spotlight
Tips for Malaysians to Maximize Wins Using Betting Apps
Practical tips for Malaysian bettors on using betting apps effectively, focusing on discipline, features, and informed decision-making
Tips for Malaysians to Maximize Wins Using Betting Apps These days, plenty of people in Malaysia place bets through smartphone apps while watching football matches. Quick entry from phones means decisions happen faster, yet staying focused matters even more. Success tends to come less from frequent betting and more from...
INNOVATE® Seattle
Madrona
A PARTNER AND BACKER OF FOUNDERS AT THE INNOVATION, EARLY AND ACCELERATION STAGES
A PARTNER AND BACKER OF FOUNDERS AT THE INNOVATION, EARLY AND ACCELERATION STAGES. Madrona starts working with leadership teams before the first investment, supporting them with capital and hard work. We have been doing this since 1995 and actively invest in AI, enterprise technology, marketplaces, and more. As the tech...
INNOVATE™ Toronto
BOSS INSIGHTS
ACCELERATING FINTECHS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES FORWARD
You know how to lend. But, to whom do you lend, when you don’t have the right data? Too many business lenders are constrained by partial data and manual processes. And, speed is paramount. Keren Moynihan, CEOBoss Insights empowers fintechs and lenders to respond faster, make underwriting decisions more quickly,...
INNOVATE® Seattle
BRINC
TRANSFORMING PUBLIC SAFETY: THE FUTURE OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Blake Resnick, the founder and CEO of BRINC, started his engineering career at McLaren Automotive at 14. He later worked at Tesla Motors and DJI, the world’s largest drone company. Growing up in Las Vegas, the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting deeply impacted Blake, leading him to focus on public...
INNOVATE® Detroit
Detroit Venture Partners
Shaping the Future of Tech in Detroit and Beyond
Founded in 2010 by Dan Gilbert, the visionary behind Rocket Companies and Rocket Mortgage, Detroit Venture Partners (DVP) is at the forefront of Detroit’s entrepreneurial renaissance. Gilbert’s leadership in reshaping industries through his companies extends seamlessly into DVP, a venture capital firm committed to investing in bold entrepreneurs and game-changing...
INNOVATE™ South Africa
RETAIL CAPITAL
TURNING A DIGITAL FOOTPRINT INTO A FUNDING LIFELINE
Retail Capital was born in 2011 as an idea on a white napkin. Those drawings became the framework of what ended up being the first Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) product for businesses in South Africa. Driven by a deep passion to support the SME sector, Retail Capital has since innovated...
INNOVATE® Nashville
CAPITOL VIEW DENTAL
DENTISTRY WITH A CLASSICAL TOUCH, WHERE NASHVILLE COMES TO SMILE!
When I started college in 2005 at Indiana University, if you would have told me I’d be opening the first black owned dental practice in the North Gulch in Nashville by 2025, I would have been totally shocked. I would be trying to figure out how a musician studying classical...
INNOVATE™ Alberta
CALGARY INNOVATION COALITION
Accelerating a venture’s journey, providing a path to success
The Calgary Innovation Coalition (CIC) is striving to create a healthy, inclusive, globally recognized innovation ecosystem supporting thriving ventures in the Calgary region. To accelerate the venture’s journey we leverage the connectivity, experience, and knowledge of our member network to identify and address ecosystem needs, enhance connections, and enable venture...
INNOVATION Quebec
ICI
CCTT IN GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS AND PRINTABILITY
A printed product is much more than colour on paper! It delivers a message, draws attention, surprises and protects; it evolves with our needs, growing smarter every day. INNOVATION in industrial researchLooking to add smart features to your products? Want to develop functional inks, use nanomaterials or improve the circularity...
INNOVATE™ Oeiras
BMW
Full Speed Towards The Mobility Of The Future
With more than 100 years of history and a journey based on the courage to innovate and compete among the best, the BMW Group continues to learn from the challenges of the past to respond to the opportunities of the future. We believe that the answer to great challenges is...
INNOVATE® Nashville
FreightWise
Bringing transportation technology and supply chain solutions to SMB and midmarket businesses.
FOUNDED IN 2015 IN BRENTWOOD, TN, FREIGHTWISE HAS BECOME A TRUSTED PARTNER FOR ITS CUSTOMERS, PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION EXPERTISE AND TECHNOLOGY TO DRIVE EFFICIENCY AND INNOVATION FOR BUSINESSES. Agile transportation technology and solutions FreightWise offers flexible Transportation Management System (TMS) technology to SMB and mid-market businesses through FreightWise TMS and Kuebix...
INNOVATE® Gaming & Esports
THE JACOBSON FIRM, P.C.
Strives To Provide Industry Leading Legal Services For The Entertainment, Esports And Video Gaming Industries That Are Both Cost Efficient And Highly Effective
The Jacobson Firm, P.C. is an intellectual property, entertainment and esports business law firm located in New York City. The Firm handles all domestic and international trademarks, copyrights, and licensing matters for companies and entertainment influencers. They provide services to the esports, video game, music, and entertainment industries, as well...
INNOVATE® Washington DMV Edition
Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID)
A Vision Realized
The Anacostia Business Improvement District (BID) is dedicated to fostering a thriving, safe, and vibrant commercial and arts district in the designated BID area. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it ensures that local businesses have the resources they need to succeed while promoting economic development that aligns with the unique character...
INNOVATION Quebec
Innofibre
Founded in 1989, Innofibre - Cellulosic Products Innovation Center, is a college center for the transfer of technologies that collaborates with companies, public organizations and both public and private research institutions for the development and scaling of biobased products and bioprocesses
Innofibre’s vision is to contribute to the development of the bioeconomy in Quebec by supporting SME and large companies in innovation. The Innofibre team has the expertise to carry out multidisciplinary projects and carries out numerous projects each year with several partner research institutions. Innofibre stands out for its $40...